Ralph is a recent widower in his midi-60's, who was diagnosed with metatastasized colon cancer.
He is a home health agency patient, and his primary caregivers a re his two daughters. Ralph is unaware of the severity of his condition and wanted to know what his state of health and prognosis were.
The nurse evaded his questions initially, and his daughters did not want to tell him that his cancer was terminal.
The nurse's position was not to continue providing care for Ralph, as she would be deceiving him by not telling him the truth. When the nurse consulted with Ralph's physician, he agreed with the family's decision, as he felt that they needed time to accept their mother's recent death and Ralph's impending death.
The doctor ordered the nurse not to oppose him and not to disclose any further infomation to Ralph.
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